The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-12
Odd and Even-Year Winters.

TO the Editor OF the Indianapolis journal
The coming winter will most probably be a
mild one, comparatively speaking. It is what is
termed odd year winter. that is, it begins in
a year that is not Invisible by two without a re-
maindar; 1887 is not Invisible by two without a
remainder hence it is an odd year. It has been
noticed by close observers of the weather that
odd-year winters generally mild winters
There may be one or two cold SPELLS but much
the greatest proportion of the winter will be
mild. This was even so in the winter of 1864,
still remembered as the 'cold New Years" for
Jan. l. 1864 was terribly cold; it began in the
morning with cold, drzzliug rain, rapidly
turned cold. followed by bowling suow-storm
and the next morning winter had fully asserted
its icy sway. The streams were
low. and froze to the bottom at shallow
fords, SO that beavily-loaded wagons
drove over the ice without breaking or cracking
it. This geld condition held firm for two
weeks, when il began to moderate, and the
weather became mild warm and dry; the dirt
roads got dusty in February. and continued so
till after the middle of March, when the spring
month of December, 1868, was so mild that the
bees were out on Christmas day in great num-
berf-two weeks extreme cold weather was all
the real cold weather that We had that winter.
l could cite numerous instances since 1860 of
mild odd-year winters and cold even-year win
tiers; and any close observer gifted with good
recollection can do the same II he only will put
his studying on"
The latter part of the summer and the entire
fall of 1868 was very dry; it WAS followed by
mild winter. The drought of 1881 was followed
by mild winter; ard the probabilities are that
the great drought of 1887 will likewise be fol-
lowed by mild winter.
A probable reason why mild winters usually
follow long drought is, that in time of pro-
tracted drought, the water in the outer crust of
the earth next the surface becomes exhausted,
and what is termed the first water by well-dig-
para faila OF oc nnf. nnan ualio Viii ch
only go down to the first water become dry, be-
cause OF its exhaustion, the only wells which
retain their moisture being the driven wells
and others that have been dug down to the
ond water, which is not affected by drought.
Now. the first water having been exhausted and
the rains coming late in the fall or not till win
ter sets in, it requires a great deal of rain
snowfall to again saturate the outer crust of
the earth down to the level of the first water.
More, in fact than one winter will ordinarily
supply, and the soil being dry to such great
depth absorbs all the rain and snow that falls,
or nearly 80, and thereby prevents such an
emulation of snow and ice as would produce
extreme cold winter.
The drought having been very extensive,
reaching far north as well as south, would pre-
sent vast extent of arid earth-crust to be sat-
urated by the.comng winters rain and snowfall
This parched earth-crust would not only absorb
the water in great volumes but it would no
doubt give out g. eat deal of latent heat stored
ing the long continued excess of heat, which al
ways prevails in time of drought Hence the win
ter conditions of the atmosphere would be mate
rally ameliorated. The advancing arctic tides
and cool waves that come to us, by way of Man
itoba, that open door to the ingress OF old Bore
as. would be deprived of much of their frieidity
before reaching Therefore the temperature
of the atmosphere, and the earths surface imme-
diately below it, would be maintained at a high
er point than usual. and mild winter would be
the necessary result.
Another reason in support of this theory may
be alleged, to-wit In q season of long -pro-
tracted drought and extreme heat, such as the
past season has been, it would melt the snow
and ice to a much greater extent in the Arctic
regions than usual; and the earth would be bare
of snow and ice several degrees of latitude fur
Their north than of an ordinary season. Hence
when winter began again, the approach Of the
snow and ice would be materially retarded by
reason OF the dry condition of the earths surface
in high northern ATTITUDES. which would receive
and absorb much of the rain and snowfall before
our country would be reached by the advance
of the hyperborean battalions and storm clad
legions enlisted in the Arctic ocean, the Hud-
sons bay regions, and the glacial elevations Of
Greenlands icy mountains. Therefore we may
fairly infer from the foregoing reasons adduced,
that the preponderance of probabilities is de-
cdedly in favor of mud, rather moderate
winter. WIN. r. NORRIS.
Sur TpI